Plate registering machine



June 11, 1940. H. A. w. WOOD 2,204,523

PLATE REGISTERING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A p V a a? O {Q A V fidezcn-x O fizzryA. 7120s 601 A a, mph/U,

June 11, 1940. H. A. w. WOOD PLATE REGISTERING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4W 1 E Z H June 11, 1940. H. A. w. WOOD PLATE REGISTERING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 /Ifllllll/ A m u I n l I I I I I v v I I 1 1 I I u w 7 7/!1/1 fir/111 w WNKN Q w my Q I Dr June 11, 1940. H. A. w. WOOD PLATE REGISTERING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ill.

Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLATE REGISTERING MACHINE poration of Virginia Application July 29, 1937, Serial No. 156,252

16 Claims.

invention relates to the registering of successive castings or other articles so that they may be put through a machine to work on them subsequently in exactly registered position for the purpose of making the final products exactly alike or exactly in registration. Its particular value lies in the stereotyping art and in the preparation of semi-cylindrical printing plates which are used on rotary printing presses, especially Where color printing is involved. It involves the pre-registration of plates before placing them on the printing press so that all of them will be in the same relative position when receiving ink.

The objects of this invention are to provide means wherebyjconsiderable time and effort are saved because a plate may be registered, or any out-of-registration plate discovered, before the plate is actually put on the printing cylinder; to provide a combination of means for correctly registering each plate by a set of stationary locating devices, such as mirrors, so that the plate can be adjusted by theuse of these mirrors to fit preset register marks and then the plate marked or notched by the present machine so the plate can be accurately aligned. for machining the plate; to provide means whereby, when a series of plates are registeredon this machine and then finished on another machine and placed on a set of printing cylinders which are themselves uniform, registration will be obtained necessarily from a plate on one printing couple to a plate on the next successive printing couple without complicated manipulations; to provide means whereby, if a plateis imperfect due to some process in stereotyping, or the like, this fact Will be discovered andthat plate discarded or remade before it is even sent to the press room; to provide a plateholding saddle having end plate clamps with improved means for operating the plate clamps simultaneously by hand; to provide this saddle and a plate lifting means in a complete assembly constituting an individual unit; to provide means for supporting the saddle so that it is pivoted at its center and can swing without throwing the plate lifting means out of effective operation; to providehand mechanism for turning the saddle through an angle; to

i provide hand operated means' for moving. the

and simple but. accurate means for, operating them; to provide means for automatically shut to provide .broaches to make register notches on the plate ting off the motor which operates the broaches, and to provide a complete machine which is compact and easily assembled for accomplishing all of the above mentioned results.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a plate registering machine constructed in accordance with thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the lower part of the machine showing the means for raising and lowering the saddle} 1 Fig. 3 is an end view thereof, as indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a central verticalsectional view of the 'main part of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line' l -4 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the end of a printing plate notched in accordance with this invention and constituting the product of this machine,

. and

Fig. 8 is a plan of a View plate looking direction of the arrow 8 in Fig. 6.

As stated, this machine performs no function except to provide a permanent register mark on a printing plate, particularly a plate of a semicylindrical shape on which a preliminary registering mark has been made. The preliminary mark is usually only a scratch 96 on the plate and a cross hair 91, or a series of them, on the stationary frame of the machine. The permanent mark is a notch I02 cut in each of the curved ends, l

The machine is shown as carried by a main frame I. Two brackets 2 and 3 are bolted to this frame permanently and serve as parts of the frame. They are located at opposite ends and to these two brackets are bolted horizontal brack ets 4 and carrying a plurality of rollers li mounte ed on studs 1 carried directly by the last named brackets. These rollers serve for supporting horizontally the opposite straight edges of a semicylindrical stereotype plate which has been provided withregister marks. This bracket 2. and its several parts at the left of the machineconstitute the receiving platform. In the same way the bracket 3 in its assembled form at the right of the machine constitutes the delivery platform.

in the Centrally located near the delivery platform near the top is a carriage 8 which contains suitable bearings for rotatably mounting the trunnions 8a of the plate saddle 9 which, of course, is curved to the shape of the stereotype plate.

It will be-understood that the carriage 8 moves only in a longitudinal manner parallel to the axis of the plate saddle 9 and that the saddle, besides its movement with the carriage, can move only in an arcuate direction about its own axis. These two motions are used to bring into registration the two marks 95 and 9?. Then the plate is held in that position while the notches Hi2 are made. These notches will be in the same, position with reference to the register marks on all plates.

Slidably mounted on the plate saddle are clamps Ill and H at opposite ends which provide means for locking the concave printing plates l2 rigidly to the saddle; respectively to two clamp arms it, each of which mounts a nut i l threadedly engaged ona right and left hand screw l5. This screw is mounted in two brackets l6 that are bolted to and become part of the saddle 9. This screw is held from longitudinal motion by a beveled gear ll engaging one of the brackets l5 and a thrust collar l8 engaging the other and both fixed on the shaft. Meshing with the bevel gear ll is a bevel gear l9 fastened'to the upper end of a vertical shaft 20. The shaft 26 carries a worm 2!, a bushing 22 and a bottom bevel gear 23 for driving it. The shaft 2b is mounted in the bracket l 6 and is held in position by the gears l9 and 23 and the bushing 22.

Meshing with the bevel gear 23 is a bevel gear 24 securely mounted on a shaft 25 that is mounted in, and carried by, the bracket it. The shaft 25 is held from endwise motion by a washer 26 and thrust bushing 2?. The shaft 25' extends through an opening in the frame I to a convenient position and supports at its outside end a hand wheel 28 by which it is manipulated to turn the shaft 15 and thereby move the clamps Ill'and ll always in opposite directions.

The worm 2| meshes with worm wheels 29 and 35 securely fastened to shafts 3| and 32 which are also mounted in the brackets l6. Attached to the outer ends of the shafts 3i and 32 are levers 33 and 35 respectively.

The plate saddle 9 contains vertical slots 35 and 36 in which are supported shafts 37 and 38 which carry a pair of brackets 39 and 40. These brackets 39 and 4G carry a plurality of rollers 4| supported on both sides by studs' l2 on the brackets. This complete assembly will be referred to as a plate lifter. The plates will rest on this saddle while being notched and afterward will be lifted by the turning of the shaft 28 in such a direction as to raise the lovers 33-and 34. These levers 33 and 34 eventually engage the shafts 31 and 38. Thus, when the plate clamps are opening, the shafts 31 and 38 are rising and operating the plate lifter to a position where the rollers ll will be in alignment with the rollers 6 on the loading and receiving platforms.

It will be seen that the saddle 9 in combination with the clamping arrangement and plate lifter constitutes a unit in itself. Oscillation of the saddle does not affect any of the individual parts.

' Operation of the hand wheel '28, through *the combination of the gears and shafts described,

y will: tend to open or close clamps l and H de-- The clamps id and ii are bolted tation. The worm 2| and worm wheels 29 and 35- are so designed that when the clamps l0 and H are closing the shafts 3| and 32 move the levers 33 and- (Maway from the support shafts 37 and 38. When the clamps are opening the levers 33 ,and 34 are carried around against the support shafts Ill and 38 and raise the plate lifter upwards to a position where its rollers ll will be in alignment with rollers 6 on the loading or receiving platforms. The plate rests on the rolls 4!. Then a plate on the loading platform can be moved on the saddle in a straight line and one on the saddle can be removed.

for this purpose and similarly mounted on the opposite side is a bracket M which in turn is secured to the hub of the plate saddle 9. Rotation of the hand wheel 43 will move the poppet it along the screw A l and carry with it the plate saddle El and the lever 41 in an angular, or oscillatory, motion around the axis of the plate saddle 9. Y

Longitudinal motion of the carriage 8 is produced by rotation of a hand wheel 48 secured on the outer end of a shaft 49 mounted to the right of the hand wheel 28 on the front of the frame I. On the opposite end of the shaft 49 is mounted a bevel gear 5|] that meshes with a bevel gear 55 secured on ashaft 52. The shaft 52 is mounted in the frame I parallel to the plate saddle 9 and is held from moving longitudinally by the bevel gear 5| and a thrust collar 53secured by lock nuts 54. The shaft 52 is threadably mounted in the carriage 8 and will move the carriage 8 when the shaft is revolved through motion of the hand wheel 48. This carriage 8 can move longitudinally of the machine in this way, taking the saddle and plate with it.

' A plate to be prepared is placed upon the rolls a 6 of the loading platform 2 and, with the plate lifter support shafts 31 and 38 at their high point, the plate is pushed along by hand until it strikes a pivoted stop 55. The plate stop 55 is pivoted in a bracket 85 by a pin 86 and is held in a raisedposition by a plunger 81 and spring 88. The bracket 85 is adjustable and is held by a thumb screw 89 to a bracket 90 that is bolted to the saddle 9.

The hand wheel 28 is thenoperated to close the clamps l5 and ll and also cause the plate lifter rolls 4! to move away from the plate. By adjusting the hand wheels 43 and 48, it is now possible to make register marks 96 on the plate coincide with register marks 9'1 on or attached to the frame -I. When accurate alignment of marks is obtained, the plate is marked or notched on its curved edges by a suitable tool. In this case it is shown as a taper shank type broach 56 and 51 secured respectively in sleeves 58 and 59 slidably mounted in guides 60 and BI that are bolted to the frame I. The guides 90 and BI are adjustable to regulate the position of the mark or notch. Screws '62 and 63 mounted in the frame I, andheld from axial movement by the collars 64 and 65 and shoulders on the screws, are threa'dedly mounted in guides 60 and BI and adjust the position "of the notch in the plate.

' The guides 69 and BI are so designed that they becomeguides for chips or dust and carry them to chip pans 94 and 95.

When the plate is ready to be notched, a switch, (not shown), is operated and a driving motor 66, fastened to a shaft 61, rotates a worm 58 of the speed reducing mechanism. The motor 66 and speed reducing mechanism are located in the base of the frame I. The shaftfil is mountedby means of bushings 69 in a housing 19. The worm 68 mesheswith a worm wheel H that is secured to a shaft 12. The worm wheel H ismounted in a housing 10 by bushings 13. The shaft 12 extends through both sides of the gearhousing 10 and is sup-ported by a bush [4 where it extends through the frame I. Fastened to the right hand end of the shaft is a hub 15 supporting a cam '16 that operates a limit switch 11. I

The shaft 12 also carries eccentrics l8 and 19 that operate crankrods 80 and BI which are pivoted to the sleeves 58 and 59 by pins 82 and 83. The shaft 12 makes one complete revolution, carrying the broaches 56 and 51 up to notch the plate and returning them out of the way. The cam 16 revolves and when a rise 84 contained therein operates the limit switch 11 it will shut off the motor 66. I

The plate is then ready for removal. The hand wheel 28 opens the clamps I and II and causes the plate lifter rolls 4| to push the plate l2 above the stop 55 which is depressed by hand,

allowing the plate l2 to be pushed onto the rollers 6 of the delivering platform.

To insure accurate registering of the plates a framework 9|, containing a view plate 92 with four openings communicating by means of mirrors 93 to the register marks on the plateis fastened to the frame I. Suitable cross bars are mounted to coincide with the register marks placed preferably at the four corners of the plate. It is now apparent that a number of like plates placed upon the machine and accurately registered and marked by means of the view plate and broaches may be placed upon a mounting con.- taining pinsor projections to suit the notches, and that corresponding parts on these plates will fall on identical spots. In other words, the plates can be placed on a finishing machine identically marked and all plates will be finished exactly alike. Any plates that are. greatly out of registercannot be properly notched and will have to be thrown out.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a receiving roller platform, a delivery roller platform in alignment therewith, a plate carrying saddle between the two platforms, means for adjusting said saddle longitudinally, and means for moving said saddle about its axis laterally to register a plate carried by the saddle.

2. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a plate carrying saddle, a carriage having bearings, trunnions, on opposite ends of the saddle resting insaid bearings, whereby the saddle will move longitudinally with the carriage, means for adjusting said carriage, and means for moving said saddle about its axis laterally to register a plate carried by the saddle.

3. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a plate carrying saddle, means for clamping a plate on the saddle, means for moving the saddle on its axis laterally to bring the plate carried by the saddle, and means for accurately.

forming a notch in a registered plate to enable all I plates operated on by this machine to be notched exactly in the sameplace.

5. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a plate carrying saddle, means for swing: ingsaid saddle on its longitudinal axis to bring it into the desired position, plate clamps carried at opposite ends of the saddle means for manipulating said plate clamps simultaneously toward each other to clamp a plate on a saddle, and

means for accurately broaching a notch in each.

curved end of a plate on the saddle when the plate is in registered position.

6. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a saddle having two trunnions at opposite ends in alignment and bearings for said I trunnions to mount the saddle in a swinging position, a horizontal shaft, a vertical shaft geared thereto, means operated by the verticalshaft for simultaneously lifting the saddleand unclamping the plate thereon for the purpose of bringing the saddle into a position for the plate to be discharged. 7

7; In a plate registering machine, the combination of a horizontal shaft, a vertical shaft, means for rotating the vertical shaft from the horizontal shaft, a worm on the vertical shaft, two worm wheels operated by said worm, each having a lever, a pair of supporting shafts which the levers are adapted to engage and lift when the vertical shaft has been turned far enough, a plate saddle, and plate supporting rolls movable with said support shafts and adapted to support the plate, whereby the plate supporting rolls will be lifted by the operation of said levers.

8. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a horizontal shaft, a vertical shaft, means for rotating the vertical shaft from the horizontal shaft, a worm on the vertical shaft, two worm wheels operated by said worm, each having a lever, a pair of supporting shafts which the levers are adapted to engage and lift when the vertical shaft has been turned far enough, a plate saddle, plate supporting rolls movable with the said support shafts and adapted to support the plate, whereby the supporting rolls will be lifted by the operation of said levers, means for clamping the plate to the saddle, a stop, and manually operated means for operating the first named horizontal shaft, whereby the stop will prevent further motion of the plate along the saddle and whereby the leversat the same time stop in a position to lift the supporting rolls and will lift them when the first named shaft is rotated further. I

9. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a horizontal shaft, a vertical shaft, means for rotating the vertical shaft from the horizontal shaft, a worm on the vertical shaft, two worm wheels operated by said worm, each having a lever, a pair of supporting shafts which the levers are adapted to engage and lift when the vertical shaft has been turned far enough, a plate saddle, plate supporting rolls movable with the said support shafts and adapted to support 4 the plate, whereby the plate supp rting rolls will be lifted by an operation of said levers, a pivoted stop at one end of the machine for stopping the motion of the plate along the saddle, means for clamping the plate to the saddle, and manually operated means for operating the first named horizontal shaft, the stop being movable down under the plate to allow the plate to be discharged over the stop, and a delivery platform for receiving the plate. I

10. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a receiving roller platform, a delivery roller platform in alignment therewith, a plate carrying saddle between the two platforms, means for adjusting said saddle longitudinally, means for moving said saddle about its axis laterally to register a plate carried by the saddle, vertical guides on the machine, sleeves moving in said guides, broaches carried by said sleeves, crank rods for operating said sleeves, a main shaft, cams onsaid shaft for operating the crank rods, a motor for rotating the shaft, an automatic means for stopping the motor when it has completed a revolution and moved the breaches up. on their cutting stroke and withdrawn them.

11. In a stereotype plate registering machine, the combination of a plate saddle arranged and adapted to support a curved stereotype plate thereon in relatively fixed position and having oblong vertical openings therethrough, support shafts in said openings which support plate supporting rolls, a pair of parallel shafts having levers thereon, which are in a position to engage the support shafts and lift the plate supporting rolls or to be retracted from them and letthe plate supporting rolls down.

12. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a saddle and rolls thereon. to support the plate, a pivoted spring-pressed stop at the end of the saddle for limiting the movement of the plate in loading it, means for lifting the supporting rolls and the plate thereon, whereby, one depressing the stop by hand, the plate can be pushed off the saddle by hand.

13. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a receiving platform, a delivery platfarm in alignment therewith, a plate carrying saddle between the two platforms, means for adjusting said saddle longitudinally, means for swinging said saddle about its axis laterally to register a plate carried by the saddle, vertical guides on the machine inside the saddle, sleeves moving in said guides, broaches carried by said sleeves, crank rods for operating said sleeves to move the broaches outwardly, a main shaft, cams on said shaft for operating the crank rods, and means for rotating the shaft. 7

14. In a plate registering machine,- the combination of a horizontal shaft, a vertical shaft, means for rotating the vertical shaft from the horizontal shaft, a worm on the vertical shaft, two worm wheels operated by said worm, each having a lever, a pair of supporting shafts which the levers are adapted to engage and lift when the vertical shaft has been turned farv enough, means movable with the said support shafts to support the plate, means for clamping the plate to the saddle, a stop, and manually operated means for operating the first named horizontal shaft, whereby the stop will prevent further motion of the plate along the saddle and whereby the levers at the same time stop in a position to lift the supporting rolls and will lift them when the first named shaft is rotated further.

15. In a plate registering machine, the combination of a horizontal shaft, a vertical shaft, means for rotating the vertical shaft from the horizontal shaft, a worm on the vertical shaft, two Worm wheels operated by said worm, each having a lever, a pair of supporting shafts which the levers are adapted to engage and lift when the vertical shaft has been turned far enough, a plate saddle, means movable with the said support shafts to support a plate, whereby the plate supporting rolls will be lifted by the operation of said levers, means for clamping the plate to the saddle, and manually operated means for operating the first named horizontal shaft, and, a delivery platform for receiving the plate.

16. In a plate registering machine, the coinbination of a worm, two worm wheels operated by said worm, each having a lever, a pair of supporting shafts which the levers are adapted to engage and lift when the vertical shaft has been turned far enough, a plate saddle, and plate supporting rolls movable with the said support shafts and adapted to support the plate, whereby the plate supporting rolls will be lifted by the operation of said levers.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD.

Patent No; 2,204, 25, June 11, 191mm 7 HENRY A WISE WOOD n eff the ebove numbered petent requiring correction as fellqws: Page 1;, fircolumn; line 22, claim 10, for "an" read endline 145, claim 12, for

one read -on--; line h-lfl, claim-15, for plaltifarm" read -p1abf0I'm-;

HenI-y Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioneri of Patents, 

